He will succeed Mary Louise Mallick, who has been secretary of the finance committee for four years and on the committee staff for 22 years in all. She is becoming senior research advisory to the SUNY Research Foundation at the University at Albany.

Secretary to the finance committee is the most powerful staff budget job in the Senate. The holder of the post is instrumental in negotiating the Senate majority's versions of annual budget bills with the state Assembly and the governor's budget division.

"His experience as an adviser to the governor on a broad range of state issues will be valuable to the Senate in the future as we work with a new administration," Bruno said of Lovell.

While in Pataki's office, Lovell gained a reputation as being an expert in particular on public education finance and the complicated formulas the state uses to allocate school aid.

Lovell's salary level has yet to be determined, a spokesman for Bruno said.